Natural Hair Poetry

I thought I'd start something new . . . this can be a place for us to post hair-related poetry. It could be something you wrote . . . or something you found online that you liked. If you find it online be sure to give credit to the author!

We as black women should not let our hair be the dividing elementthat destroys our development.Our hair is a unique blend of the diverse experience we have experienced in America.It is an expression of our horrific historythat at times, the white system has usedto destroy Sister Unity.Yes, our hair defines us, but it should not deny usthe right to wear it any way we want.After all, when we look into the magazines of America,we see what has been believed to be beautiful, and then wonder if we are okay-- yes, we may say we are okay, but when we search withinand find that dilemma that makes us wonder if we should blend the nappy with the straight in order to relate to a world that has denied our beauty from the very beginning,then our hair still is a difficult and complex issue.Deep down we wonder if our men like it straight and blowing in the wind,and then after feeling its awesome texture,we fall in love with that glorious natural;yet when we stand against the world, the eyes of society don't often seeour natural halo as beauty.And then we rush back to the straighthoping that this will dictatethat we must compete in a competitive world;but blackness is a state of mind--the color or length or texture of our hairreally cannot be defined;the decision is ours--we might plague it for hours,for in the end what should really matteris the genuine love we havefor our God-given hair.
Carolyn Hopkins

In my nappy hair
exists exotic energy
that has been here for centuries
strengthening me continuously for infinity
allowing me to muster the ability
to see, act and think clearly.

In my nappy hair
The soul of Afrika lives
Which gives
my spirit culture and foundation
Enlightens me on the essence of creation
Brings me education and elevation
of the truth of my beloved Nubian nation

In my nappy hair are Afrikan songs
that make me STRONG
that tells me who I am and where I belong.

In my nappy hair
There is positivity in a large capacity
traveling at high velocities
possessing infinite possibilities
of peace, progression and prosperity.

Here's one I started a few months back but never finished. Here it goes;

Yes I am my hair.We are both natural andbeautiful and strong.We have both suffered at the hands of someone who didn't have a clue how to treat us well so we could thriveWe are both growingWe are both getting olderWe are now both a lot more healthy since we eliminated bad treatmentWe both love to be touched, caressed and spoiled.

Great finds ladies . . . and to luvmylocs and Hakim Nuraldin, what talent!!! Yall got me over here snapping my fingers . . .lol. I write but I've never written a poem about my hair before . . . maybe I'll make an attempt now . . . yall inspired me!

Thanks, sistahmaryisis! You're too kind kind! And girl, you don't know what you done started with this thread! I think that we're really going to see more beautiful, deep words about natural hair posted here. I think Imma print this out. All of these post are uplifting and inspiring! Keep it up ladies!:toothy8::blob8::toothy8:

My hair is the most original among all living organisms and grows like the spiral movement of the heavenly bodies and other natural forces.It represents the spinning of our planet, the curling of ocean waves, the spiral movement of sea shells, the spiral movement of climbing vines, and everybody knows the tornado moves like my hair grows.Samson’s strength was not in the length, but in its originality. An unscrupulous someone rearranged this information in an effort to confuse me.Samson grew weak because someone tampered with his hair. His hair was his strength. My hair is my strength.

My hair is knotty.
I cut it not,
I straighten it not,
I color it not,
I chemicalize it not.Look upon all other creatures with hair
and see how I stand out amongst them.

What are you looking at?
Why do you stare?
Is it because you do not understand the complexity of my hair?
Let me enlighten you
Maybe shed a little light
I wear my hair natural
It is my birthright
For years I abused and tortured it, I was addicted to the creamy crack
My hair is now sober and there's no turning back
You see I like the way my stands twist, turn and curl up tight
Rebelling against society's demand that they lay flat without a fight
They have a heritage, a lineage with soul stirring stories to share
They have earned the right to be free, so go head and stare
Society has failed to make them conform, despite how hard it tried
My hair is just like me, Beautiful, resilient and full of pride!

Hi I'm here at work and found this poem in my email box.
Just wanted to share:

>Here is a poem of a yahoo group owner that I believe all of us who
trip off
>being relaxed,natural,inbetween or what not definetly need to read and
>remeber
>because its beautiful.
>
>We cant add, subtract or mulitply the hairs on our head, yet we let it
>divide us
>
>
>To my natural sistah's (from your relaxed sistah)
>
>So, you think im tryin to conform? when for all ive ever known is
>this to be the norm. you say im trying to be something that im not,
when
>my
>hair will never make who i am whether it's straight, kinky, or bought
,
>you
>cut your eyes at me ova my 'do when you were once in the very same
shoes.
>so
>i
>apply this creamy stuff to make my hair straight, but you act is if
your
>kinks gave you a pass through heaven's gate? why do you put me up
under
>this
>kind of pressure? and act as though because you now have naps you are
now
>up
>to measure? you say you are so enlightened, but it seems to me as
though
>you just might be somewhat frightened. are you scared you will face
the
>temptation to straighten out the kinks again? do you project that fear
unto
>me
>distorted and full of disdain? i wish i could show you that just
because
>my
>hair is straight doesnt mean i cant relate to your pain. you say my
>ignorance
>runs deep, as though just because my hair is straight i must have no
>sense,
>my sistah have you forgotten when you were on this side of the fence?
you
>look
>your nose down on me now that you have naps growing freely from your
head,
>when really you should be concerned about the kinks in your heart
instead.
>
>To my relaxed sistah's (from your natural sistah)
>
>So you say you can relate to my pain? no i dont think you can, not
>till you have worn an all natural mane. you see, there is no pain
like
>this,
>when your very own people ignorantly diss what our hair really is.
yes i
>feel
>enlightened and free to be me, and yes , maybe i am a little
>frightened of what my nappy experience will be. you see, i feel the
>pressure
>every single day , to once again make my hair lay down, i just dont
want to
>give in and lose this freedom that i have found. no my naps wont give
me
>ticket
>through heavens gate, but i have a new love for what God made me
instead
>of
>living with self hate. I no longer damage and abuse the hair God gave
me
>just
>to fit in, im no longer in bondage to white people's greatest sin.
The
>promotion of self hate within us to oppress and degrade us, as though
>we are not acceptable the way the creator made us. I may come off as
though
>i
>think im better than you, but my sistah that is so not true, it's
about
>so
>much more than just your 'do. Maybe i dont say it right, but really we
are
>all in the same fight and all i want is to share my insight. your
acting as
>though your so righteous because you feel slighted, maybe you as well
are
>somewhat frightened. Why do my naps cause you distress? when you have
the
>same thing coming from your head under that chemical mess? you fit in
with
>those you choose cause your hair looks like theirs, and turn your back
on
>me
>when im your real reflection, you can straighten your naps all you
want to,
>but its the kinks in your heart that need inspection.
>
>
>To all sistah's (from God)
>
>I count the hairs on all of my children's heads. My word does not say
>"I count the hair on a relaxed head" nor does my word say " I only
>count the hairs of a natural head" It is I that count the hair on my
>children's heads. Do not make it your job to count the hair on your
>sister's head! It
>is I that count them and it is I that formed them! YOU CANNOT ADD
THEM, NOR
>SUBTRACT THEM, NOR MULTIPLY THEM , BUT YOU LET THEM DIVIDE YOU! i
desire
>the
>peace, happiness and joy in the hearts of all my children and this
strife
>amongst
>you saddens me greatly. for it is my purpose for you to unite and walk
in
>love notdivision. I say unto you before you check your hair in the
mirror
>to see
>whether it is perfectly straight or perfectly natural , i tell you to
to
>check to see if your heart is perfectly straight AND natural before me
>first. and
>before you look at the condtion and state of the hair of your sister,
I
>tell
>you to look at the condtion and state of your own heart first. for the
hair
>on
>on your head and the head of you sister's is but a small matter in my
>sight.
>
>Do not bother to straighten your hair to fit into this world or to be
>accepted by it , while your heart is not straightened out and you dont
>accept
>your very own sister in love...I say to you , you will surely then not
fit
>in
>with me, nor shall you be accepted by me, nor fullfill my purpose for
you.
>what you call the path of least resistance, i call the path of fools,
when
>you
>resist walking in love for others.
>
>Do not bother to wear your hair natural and untainted with chemicals
>as you have said in your heart "to be as i made you" and not walk in
love
>towards your very own sister , then i say to you, it is then that
your
>heart
>shall surely be tainted in my sight, and you will then surely not "be
as i
>made you" what you call the path of enlightenment i call the path of
>darkness, if you are not enlightened enough to walk in love for
others.
>
>I know the pain of all of your hearts and i know all the tears shed by
>all of my children and all the pain inflicted on you and the division
that
>has been caused amongst you, surely i say unto you those people will
be
>held
>accoutable for every action and deed before me. but you will not be
>able to come before me and say "Lord but my sister did not love me due
to
>the
>chemical or lack of a chemical in my hair, and Lord this is why did
not
>walk
>in love towards her in return" for i tell you she will be held
accountable
>for
>herself and you will have your own accountability unto me.

Your hair is your pride
It's being your unique self
It's part of your culture
And not a product from the shelf
Natural and organic
Without chemicals or anything synthetic
It's you and no one else
It's honesty and respect for yourself
It's confidence and also piety
And not being succumbed to the pressures of society
It's guidance and your natural perception
Otherwise it's against your nature and total deception

Your hair is your pride
It's being your unique self
It's part of your culture
And not a product from the shelf
Natural and organic
Without chemicals or anything synthetic
It's you and no one else
It's honesty and respect for yourself
It's confidence and also piety
And not being succumbed to the pressures of society
It's guidance and your natural perception
Otherwise it's against your nature and total deception